ase), and then my legs, and I could see the amazement with which the Grand Panjandrum and all the assembled company were regarding the, to them, extraordinary phenomenon.

"The Executioner in his agitation dropped his axe, and stood open-mouthed regarding what was left of me; and, although I was rather anxious lest they should make an attempt to chop off my head before it finally disappeared, I managed despite my gag to 'grin' in the Grand Panjandrum's face, and an instant later I found myself here."

Shin Shira, having finished his story, drew his little fan from his sleeve and sat fanning himself with great composure, while he regarded my doubtless astonished face with considerable amusement.

"I--I'll put that story down at once, if you don't mind," I stammered, hurrying to my desk and getting out some papers.

The drawer stuck, and it was some seconds before I could get it open, and when I turned round again, to my great dismay, Shin Shira had almost disappeared.

The little

Reviews

Charming little tales about the mysterious Shin Shira, a little man dressed in yellow who appears from nowhere to the supposed author and relates fabulous tales of his magical exploits, and gets the author involved in some adventures of his own. Dragons, magic carpets and rides on model boats, this reminds me of E Nesbit's sort of work, and if a little dated, has humour and some lovely scenes where the real world intervenes to make magical events rather lose their way.

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